[Curious as to what the Democrats are talking about when they so frequently bring up the Third Way Progressive Movement. Following is what my research brought to light about the slogan 'The Third Way'.]

The Third Way is a global movement dedicated to modernizing progressive politics for the information age. Third Way politics seeks a new balance of economic dynamism and social security, a new social compact based on individual rights and responsibilities, and a new model for governing that equips citizens and communities to solve their own problems. (More about the Third Way...)
http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ka.cfm?knlgAreaID=128

June 1, 1998 - America and the world have changed dramatically in the closing decades of the 20th century. The industrial order of the 20th century is rapidly yielding to the networked "New Economy" of the 21st century. Our political and governing systems, however, have lagged behind the rest of society in adapting to these seismic shifts. They remain stuck in the left-right debates and the top-down bureaucracies of the industrial past.

The Democratic Leadership Council, and its affiliated think tank the Progressive Policy Institute, have been catalysts for modernizing politics and government. From their political analysis and policy innovations has emerged a progressive alternative to the worn-out dogmas of traditional liberalism and conservatism. The core principles and ideas of this "Third Way" movement are set forth in The New Progressive Declaration: A Political Philosophy for the Information Age.

Starting with Bill Clinton's Presidential campaign in 1992, Third Way thinking is reshaping progressive politics throughout the world. Inspired by the example of Clinton and the New Democrats, Tony Blair in Britain led a revitalized New Labour party back to power in 1997. The victory of Gerhard Shroeder and the Social Democrats in Germany the next year confirmed the revival of center-left parties which either control or are part of the governing coalition forming throughout the European Union. From Latin America to Australia and New Zealand, Third Way ideas also are taking hold.

On Sunday, April 25, 1999, the President Clinton and the DLC hosted a historic roundtable discussion, The Third Way: Progressive Governance for the 21st Century, with five world leaders including British PM Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Dutch PM Wim Kok, and Italian PM Massimo D'Alema, the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and DLC President Al From.

The Third Way philosophy seeks to adapt enduring progressive values to the new challenges of he information age. It rests on three cornerstones: the idea that government should promote equal opportunity for all while granting special privilege for none; an ethic of mutual responsibility that equally rejects the politics of entitlement and the politics of social abandonment; and, a new approach to governing that empowers citizens to act for themselves.

The Third Way approach to economic opportunity and security stresses technological innovation, competitive enterprise, and education rather than top- down redistribution or laissez faire. On questions of values, it embraces "tolerant traditionalism," honoring traditional moral and family values while resisting attempts to impose them on others. It favors an enabling rather than a bureaucratic government, expanding choices for citizens, using market means to achieve public ends and encouraging civic and community institutions to play a larger role in public life. The Third Way works to build inclusive, multiethnic societies based on common allegiance to democratic values.

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?contentid=895&knlgAreaID=85&subsecid=109

 

Democrazia Repubblicana - Editorial - May 10, 2001 Editor's Note: This editorial originally ran on the website of Italy's Republican Democrats - Italy's Republican Democrats - In the wake of George W. Bush's freakish victory in America's 2000 presidential election, it's fair to ask: Does the Third Way have a future in the land of its birth?

The first systematic effort to modernize progressive politics, after all, began with Bill Clinton's 1992 election as president. Dismissing the conventional left-right debate as "brain dead," Clinton and his "New Democrat" allies fashioned a new political synthesis. Stressing economic growth over wealth redistribution, the Clinton White House restored fiscal discipline, expanded trade and deregulated key economic sectors to spur innovation. It struck a new balance between individual and collective responsibility, replacing welfare paternalism with work while also expanding public supports for working families. And it began to drag government into the information age, breaking down old bureaucratic monopolies and equipping local communities and individuals with the tools they need to confront their own problems. http://www.democraziarepubblicana.org http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=128&subsecID=187&contentID=3361

Third Way Will Rise Again

By Will Marshall

Blueprint Magazine - July 29, 2002 - By Will Marshall - Table of Contents - Conservative parties have been on an electoral roll lately, toppling center-left governments from Washington to Rome, Paris to Amsterdam. But let's not toss the Third Way -- the movement to modernize progressive politics -- into history's dustbin just yet.

For one thing, the Third Way pulse beats strongly in Britain, where Tony Blair's New Labour party has thoroughly marginalized its Tory opponents. For another, the right's gains don't add up to a Fourth Way -- a compelling narrative of political change to rival the story of center-left rejuvenation.

In fact, the new center-right governments apparently have come not to bury the Third Way, but to imitate it. Witness George Bush's attempts to cast himself as a centrist, "compassionate conservative" and his brazen filching of New Democrat ideas on education, welfare, and national service.

More fundamentally, though, there are two reasons to think that the Third Way will rise again. First, most progressive parties in the transatlantic world know they can't go back to the old left dogma of class conflict, welfare paternalism, and big, bureaucratic government. They must modernize or die. Second, center-right parties have shown little imagination in responding to globalization's discontents or the rise in Europe of a new populism centered on the combustible issues of crime, immigration, and national identity. Their failure opens a window of opportunity for the center left.

For the moment, however, there's no denying the right's ascendancy, at least at the ballot box. Beginning with Bill Clinton's New Democrat campaign of 1992, the modernizing impulse spread quickly to Britain and Germany and culminated by decade's end with center-left governments in 13 of 15 European Union countries. Today the center-right holds power in Washington and 13 EU capitals.

The past year's reverses have been particularly brutal. The left lost power in Italy, Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France. And while German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder remains personally popular, his Social Democrats are trailing their conservative opponents in polling for this fall's elections.

In June, progressive activists from America, Britain, and continental Europe gathered at Hartwell House outside London to plot the Third Way's comeback. The strategy session, which featured appearances by Blair and Clinton, highlighted three distinct challenges facing center-left reformers.

In the United States, Democrats must find a way to break a prolonged stalemate in national politics that has produced divided government, toxic partisanship, and profound cynicism about what politics can accomplish. To build a new progressive majority, the party needs new ideas that expand its appeal beyond core supporters -- bold initiatives for making Americans safer, reviving the economy, narrowing cultural divides, and reorganizing the public sector around modern information networks.

In Britain, New Labour's chief task is to maintain the momentum of reform. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown reminded the Hartwell House group that Labour's fate hinges on its continued ability to exercise fiscal prudence and manage a dynamic, growing economy. That will generate resources the government needs to keep its pledge to improve public services like health care and transportation -- but new spending must be tied to serious reform of archaic public-sector bureaucracies.

On the Continent, center-left parties must show economic competence by reducing persistently high unemployment -- nearly 10 percent in France and Germany. But as the fall of Holland's center-left government in May showed, even a strong economic performance isn't enough, as mounting concerns about crime and immigration thrust social and cultural values into the political cauldron.

There's a spreading populist revolt against Europe's technocratic and insular elites, who seem unwilling to confront crime, the growing economic and social isolation of immigrant communities, and eroding national identity and sovereignty. Though immigrants are the main target now, Dirk Benschop, Holland's former foreign secretary, predicted that "European integration and enlargement will be the next target of the populist right."

Enfolded in the elite consensus, neither Social Democrats nor mainstream conservatives offer credible responses to these concerns. Center-left reformers can fill the vacuum. Taking a page from Clinton and Blair, they can offer crime-fighting innovations that focus on prevention and punish real malefactors, not the poor. Drawing on America's long experience with assimilation, the center left should offer immigrants a clear path to full citizenship based on equal rights and mutual responsibilities. And progressives can be for European integration while also insisting that the EU stop empowering bureaucrats and start instead to open its institutions to far greater democratic participation and accountability.

The center-left will rise again -- when it recaptures the Third Way's spirit of innovation and radical pragmatism. [Will Marshall is president of the Progressive Policy Institute.]

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=128&subsecID=187&contentID=250672

 

Third Way From Wikipedia

 

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Third way is a common denominator for schools of thought that purport to present an alternative to a traditional political dichotomy, most notably to that of left- and right-wing politics.

Third way may refer to:

Third way (centrism), or "radical centre", an economic and political idea that positions itself between democratic socialism and laissez-faire capitalism
Third Way (UK), a small fringe political party in Britain
"Third way", an approach to Cold War-era foreign policy, siding with neither the U.S. nor the Soviet Union (this in turn spawned the phrase third world). See also Non-Aligned Movement.
"Third way, a term used by Benito Mussolini to describe fascism comparted to capitalism and socialism

[Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) was the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 until his overthrow in 1943. Mussolini became a close ally of German dictator Adolf Hitler, whom he influenced. Mussolini entered the war in June, 1940 on the side of Nazi Germany. Three years later, the Allies invaded Italy. In April 1945 Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland, only to be captured and executed by Communist Resistance units.]
"Third way", a philosophy of Libyan leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi set out in his Green Book
"Third way", a term used by former Argentine President Juan Peron to describe his philosophy
"Third way", a contemporary application of Hegel's Dialectics to modern politics

[Dialectic From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Dialectics)
Dialectic is the use of language to discover truth. Originally, it was synonomous with logic. - In classical philosophy, dialectic (Greek: d?a?e?t???) is an exchange of proposition (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses) resulting in a synthesis of the opposing assertions, or at least a qualitative transformation in the direction of the dialogue. It is one of the three original liberal arts or trivium (the other members are rhetoric and grammar) in Western culture. In ancient and medieval times, both rhetoric and dialectic were understood to aim at being persuasive (through dialogue). The aim of the dialectical method, often known as dialectic or dialectics, is to try to resolve the disagreement through rational discussion. One way — the Socratic method — is to show that a given hypothesis (with other admissions) leads to a contradiction; thus, forcing the withdrawal of the hypothesis as a candidate for truth. Another way of trying to resolve a disagreement is by denying some presupposition of the contending thesis and antithesis; thereby moving to a third (syn)thesis.(I)]
"Third way", Jesus' way of dealing with conflict according to Walter Wink

[Ednote: Third way was not Jesus' way of dealing with conflict. Modern evangelist have applied the Dialectic approach and have succeeded to neutralize the Gospel into a social movement which doesn't resemble what Jesus taught. Our mind cannot comprehend two opposites and therefore has to move to a different approach destroying both original ideologies which are the opposites.]

Prof. Dr. Walter Wink is Professor emeritus at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. His faculty discipline is biblical interpretation. He previously worked as a parish minister and professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1989-1990 he was a Peace Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.

He is known for his work on power structures, with a progressive Christian view on current political and cultural matters. He coined the phrase "the myth of redemptive violence", and has contributed to discourse on homosexuality, pacifism, and Jesus as a historical figure. Neal Stephenson likens some of Wink's ideas to "an epidemiology of power disorders", a phenomenology of oppression. He is one of the scholars affiliated with the Jesus Seminar.]

"Third way", Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's PC Party one-time approach to deliver health care

Some history and attitude of Ralph Klein:

[Although his government has been generous in funding arts and has not cut health programs to the degree as some other Canadian provincial governments, Klein's social and environmental views are seen by opponents as uncaring. Supporters argue in response that Klein is merely choosing appropriate priorities for limited government funding.

Klein is opposed to the Kyoto Accord. Alberta is a major producer of oil and natural gas, despite many attempts to diversify into forestry, software, and beef ranching.

In 2003, mad cow disease was discovered in a cow in Alberta. At first the Alberta government claimed that the cow had been removed from the food processing chain, but would soon say that it was likely fed to certain animals.

Klein would say, "I guess any self-respecting rancher would have shot, shovelled and shut up, but he didn't do that," referring to the farmer in northern Alberta whose animal was found to have the disease when it was taken to a slaughterhouse. Exports of Canadian beef cattle had already been stopped at the US border, with other countries already following suit. Alberta ranchers were selling beef for as low as one dollar per pound in Calgary. In July 2003, Klein offered to pay $10 billion to any Japanese citizen who came to Canada and became ill due to beef traced back to mad cow. Japan has been a key stumbling block to getting the U.S. border reopened because it has made clear it may rethink taking U.S. beef if it has Canadian beef mixed in with it. Klein called on the federal government of Canada for support, citing the response to the Toronto SARS crisis in previous months. Federal assistance did subsequently arrive.

Ralph Klein at the 2005 Calgary Stampede ParadeIn late June 2003, Klein and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, widely reported to be friends, met to discuss the beef ban and the route of an Alaskan oil pipeline, which Klein has vehemently argued must be integrated with the extensive Alberta pipeline system. This is popular with Cheney and other advocates of North American energy independence in the oil industry.

At the 2004 Calgary Stampede, Klein announced that the province had set aside the necessary funds to repay its public debt in 2005. The debt stood at about C$23 billion when Klein took office, and its repayment was one of the most significant long-term goals of Klein's premiership. Klein was re-elected for a fourth term in the 2004 provincial election held on November 22, 2004 with a reduced majority, as he only won 47% of the vote, and only 62 out of the 83 ridings.

In June 2003, an Ontario Superior Court Charter ruling removed federal restrictions on same-sex unions being recognized legally as marriage. This being very unpopular in Alberta, Klein repeated a promise to use the Notwithstanding Clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to veto any requirement that the province register same-sex marriages. Contrary to many media reports which annoyed Klein, this was a position of the Alberta legislature itself, passed five years earlier, and not a new position of his own. In December 2004, Klein called for a national referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage. This plan was quickly rejected by the government of Paul Martin and by federal Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper.

Following the federal Parliament's approval of same-sex marriage in 2005 via Bill C-38, Klein announced that his government would initially fight the distribution of same-sex marriage licences. However, he later recanted, stating publicly that there was no legal route to oppose the federal act (neither via the notwithstanding clause nor the province's power over civil marriage), and the government reluctantly acknowledged the marriages.

In September 2005, Klein announced that each Albertan resident would qualify for a Prosperity Bonus as a result of an oil-driven budget surplus.

Controversies
One comment Klein made on the radio, that a particular judge should be "very, very quickly fired," was actually brought before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Provincial Judges Reference (1997) for raising concerns about judicial independence. The Court merely said the comment was "unfortunate."

A problem drinker, Klein, under the influence, once verbally abused homeless people at an Edmonton-area shelter. After the incident, Klein reportedly sought to end his alcoholism, which had once been regarded as a sort of amusing, harmless quirk by many Albertans. Though Klein was intoxicated during the incident, this was consistent with an earlier stance on welfare he had taken, which was to offer destitute people "a bus ticket to Vancouver" to exploit the (then) more generous social assistance of British Columbia.

In February 2006, the Western Standard magazine came under fire for printing comments about Klein's wife Colleen Klein, who is Métis. A column by Ric Dolphin, arguing that Colleen Klein has too much influence over her husband, quoted an unnamed source who said "Once she stops being the premier's wife, she goes back to being just another Indian."[2]

Reacting to comments made in March 2006 by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty opposing any two-tiered health care system in Ontario that Klein has proposed in Alberta which would allow quicker access to surgery for those who pay, Klein stated "I'm no doctor, but I think that Mr. McGuinty's got a case of premature speculation".

On March 1, 2006, Klein got into trouble for exclaiming "I don't need this crap" and throwing the Liberal health care policy book at page Jennifer Huygen during question period in the Alberta legislature.[3] The same booklet later sold on ebay for a reported $1,400, signed by Alberta's Liberal Leader Kevin Taft, with the caption, "Policy on the fly"[4].Earlier in the question period he also had to apologize for calling Liberal leader Kevin Taft a liar. His apology consisted of saying, "Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I won't use the word 'fib.' I'll say that he doesn't tell the whole truth all the time - most of the time."[5][6]

Leadership review and retirement
Prior to the 2004 election, Klein had stated his intention to serve only one more term in office. Pressure mounted on Klein to set a firm date and, following such a request from party executive director Peter Elzinga, Klein announced on March 14, 2006, that he will be tendering his resignation on October 31, 2007.[7] He subsequently stated that his resignation would take effect in early 2008 after a successor is chosen at the party's leadership election.

Klein announced his timetable days before party delegates were to vote in a review of his leadership on March 31, 2006. The drawn-out schedule for his retirement, along with his announcement that any cabinet minister who wished to run for leader must resign by June 2006, generated a large degree of controversy, including criticism from cabinet minister Lyle Oberg who was subsequently fired from cabinet and suspended from caucus.

When the leadership review ballot was held, Klein won the support of only 55% of delegates, down from the 90% level of support he had won at previous reviews and far lower than the 75% Klein felt he needed in order to continue. The result was described as a "crushing blow" to Klein's leadership.[8]

In the weeks prior to the vote, Klein had said he would resign immediately if he did not win the leadership review by a "substantial" margin. In the hours following the vote, Klein released a statement thanking delegates for their support and saying he would take several days to consider his future.

"Given the results of this vote, I intend to meet with party officials and my staff to discuss my next step," he said. "I will do this as quickly as possible and announce a decision about my future shortly.[9]

At a press conference on Tuesday, April 4th, 2006, Klein announced that as a result of the lukewarm vote for his continued leadership he would submit a letter in September to Alberta's Progressive Conservative Party urging them to convene a leadership contest. Klein said he would resign as party leader and Premier once a successor was named, and would assist the new leader in their transition to Premier.

Klein also voiced his expectation was that a leader could well be named by the late fall of 2006, and that his last day as Premier would likely be the end of December 2006.] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Klein

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